Weekly Reflection - 6/23/2022
St. Mary's Weekly Reflection: The Rev. David Erickson
The Times They Are a-Changin’ Bob Dylan
“The only constant in this world is change.” While I don’t know who said this pithy phrase originally, it is certainly true for us at St. Mary’s today. We are transitioning to our summer schedule, having completed another fabulous program year. For the first time in over two years, we will have our “normal” summer schedule of an 8am and 10am service. The 8am service is able to return after a two-year hiatus because many attendees of that service have stepped up to help make it happen. Thank you!
Our COVID circumstances seem to be changing as well, and this time for the better! This week it was announced that vaccines will be available to infants and toddlers, allowing all but the very youngest (under six months) to have protection from the virus that has caused so much uncertainty and pain in our lives. Perhaps (hopefully!) we are reaching a point that, while we will need to be aware of the overall COVID circumstances in our city, the high rate of vaccinations and lower rate of transmission will allow us to gather with less anxiety than we have had these past 2+ years. A very welcome change!
There are also changes in the staff at St. Mary’s. Manny Gabiana, our beloved Building and Groundskeeper of 32 years has officially retired (and been rehired as a consultant when needed!) and we have hired a fabulous individual, Jacob Zimmer, as our new Part-Time Building and Groundskeeper. If you missed his hire announcement, check your email inbox again!
Another change coming is the arrival of our new Associate Rector at St. Mary’s. While we can’t give you any information now, we do STRONGLY encourage you to pay attention to your email inbox this Thursday evening. There just MIGHT be an email coming out announcing who this new associate rector is and when they will be starting. Just saying.
While change can be both positive and negative, and some changes are both, change of any kind takes extra effort and energy as we adjust to the new circumstances around us. It is important to be patient with ourselves and each other as our common life continues to evolve and stabilize.
Thankfully, while change is a constant, so is the ever-present love and grace of God. The Holy Spirit surrounds us and supports us in these evolutions, and inspires us to dive deep into God’s hope for the world. A hope for which Jesus Christ lived and died for, and invites us to live into as well. I think this is reflected well in the pictures above. One is from 1891 and the other from our recent years together. Much has changed at St Mary's, but Christ's love is ever and always present. The times they are a changin, and God is carrying us through!!
Blessings and peace,
Rev. David
